County Cup success for South Wales tennis girls

The South Wales girls’ tennis team had a successful weekend (1st March) at the County Cup in Sheffield. The girls were up against teams from Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and the West of Scotland, and they were led by team captain Melissa House from Penarth.

Friday’s single matches ended in a tie 3-3 against Gloucestershire, with wins by Swansea’s Alice Warren (6-0, 6-1) and Joely Lomas (6-4, 6-3), and Alex Oelmann from Cardiff (6-1, 6-3). The girls won all three of their doubles matches, with Alice Warren being joined by Llanelli’s Chloe Alpine and winning 6-4, 6-2, while Alex Oelmann played with Joely Lomas and won their second and third sets 7-6, 1-0, and Caerphilly’s Meryl Bird with Amy Leiu from Port Talbot winning 6-3, 4-6, 1-0.

The girls finished Friday with an overall score of 6-3 against Gloucestershire, and faced the Leicestershire team on Saturday. The singles matches ended in a tie 3-3 again, with wins from Amy Leiu (6-4, 6-2), Alice Warren (6-4, 7-5) and Alex Oelmann (6-7, 6-2, 6-0). The South Wales team also dominated the doubles matches with wins in two out of three matches by pairs Alex Oelmann and Joely Lomas, who won 6-2, 6-1, and Amy Leiu and Alice Warren, who won 6-3, 6-3. Newcomer Poppy Davies from Cardiff also played her first County Cup doubles match with Meryl Bird.

The final day of matches were against the West of Scotland team, and five out of six singles matches were won by Alice Warren (6-3, 6-0), Alex Oelmann (6-2, 6-0), Amy Leiu (3-6, 7-6, 6-3), Joely Lomas (6-2, 6-0), and Meryl Bird (2-6, 6-4, 6-4). Amy Leiu and Alex Oelmann also won their doubles match 6-3, 6-0, and the other two doubles matches weren’t played due to a clear win by South Wales.

The girls brought home the golden trophy for South Wales, and also got promoted. “Promotion is great for the team as it means the girls will be able to compete at a higher level next year, and also rewards them for their commitment and endeavour – particularly over the County Cup weekend,” said team captain Melissa House.

“It also encourages the players to continue with the sport and gives them confidence and excitement going into the next year. It was the perfect end to a great three days in Sheffield.”

Congratulations are particularly in order to Alice Warren, who won all six of her matches in what was her first under 18’s County Cup, and last year’s reserve Alex Oelmann, who won all five matches.